RTA Guide/GDQ
Welcome to the SDGQ 2025 Ukikipedia page! We're glad you're here! Ukikipedia is a central resource hub for information about SM64 and getting into speedrunning.
[Video from us at GDQ: "Hi, this is Beeve etc. etc. thanks for coming to the ukikipedia page. please look around and try out SM64, we hope you'll like it... or whatever we want]
Super Mario 64 is an iconic title and watershed moment in gaming, but what makes it so much fun? Similar to games like Super Smash Bros. Melee, the mechanics are so fluid and satisfying, the skill expression is amazing, and advanced techniques raise the skill ceiling to impossible levels. In the 29 years since this game's release, very few titles have rivaled the level of control and precision that is possible in Super Mario 64 (2 of those being Sunshine and Odyssey!). But don't take it from me, here's videogamedunkey ;)
Emulator is the easiest way to start playing! Follow this guide to set up Project 64 v1.6: https://wermi.neocities.org/emuguide/#support
If you're interested in playing ROM hacks (mods), now is a great time to get into it, with the newly released Mario Builder 64 v1.1 (Super Mario Maker-esque mod), IronMario 64 v1.2 (IronMon-esque hardcore damageless randomizer challenge), and a huge variety of fun and impressive new hacks being made all the time! You can use Parallel Launcher, which is super easy. Prolific ROM hack creator Kaze shows how to set it up in 1 minute:
Now that you're ready to play, we recommend using the Usamune Practice ROM: https://goo.gl/NTR61H https://sites.google.com/view/supermario64/usamunepj/usamunerom?authuser=0
Here's a video introduction of how to use it: Try out the presets- they range from vanilla to practice mode!
Feel free to explore Super Mario 64 to your heart's content, but if you're looking some guidance, here's some great videos to start out!
This video by SeanRaider explains the various movement options in Super Mario 64 and how they flow together. It's a great resource for any new player to understand the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyu1KO3x5Ps
Here's a couple tips we hope will help you starting off into the gameplay of Super Mario 64!
- Mario moves with a lot of force, but most actions lock you into the direction you're facing. With great power comes great responsibility!
- This can be advantageous, but especially when you're starting out, line up your angle and check your spacing when performing actions.
- When swimming or flying, small movements around the neutral zone will often give you enough control.
- The camera is hard at first (and often later), but when you make friends with it, you'll find it can work really well in a lot of cases. The game design combined with the camera allows you to do a lot of movement in the 8 notched directions (if your controller has notches).
- The left and right C buttons feel inverted from most modern games because you're actually controlling the camera's position, not Mario's perspective!
- For a better general-purpose camera, try Mario cam C-down. It will pan to follow behind Mario and you can press C-left or C-right twice to turn it by 45 degrees.
- If the camera's stuck somewhere you can't see Mario, try double-tapping R to go into and out of Mario cam to reset it.
This tutorial by Drogie walks through the entire 16 Star speedrun for beginners, and by following along, most people can complete the run from scratch in a couple hours! https://youtu.be/fajqLhUVL_s?si=8aD7Ub3kq4avSVt_
This tutorial by (2024 Streamer Award winner!) Squeex also walks through the entire 16 run with super simple strats to help new players do their first runs: https://youtu.be/n_C0beWO9Mk?si=AgJV8RhRcQ9nTo7g
Ready to dive into speedrunning Super Mario 64? Here's the main page with links to lots of other great community resources: RTA Guide
Looking for some other SM64 content? For everything inspiring, entertaining, informational, and everywhere in between, here's a playlist of some of our favorite SM64 videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_5wP6CEc-wPKqXKjmPdD6fmhEcyv195n
And don't forget to join the Super Mario Speedruns Discord! https://discord.com/invite/sm64